Mauricio Pochettino open to Tottenham return regardless of relegation
Mauricio Pochettino would be open to a sensational return to Tottenham Hotspur even if the club suffers relegation from the Premier League.
The north London club are expected to appoint a permanent manager at the end of the current campaign.
Current head coach Igor Tudor has been tasked with preserving their top-flight status but is unlikely to remain in the dugout beyond the summer.
Pochettino, currently in charge of the United States men’s national team, reportedly features on a shortlist that also includes former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and club legend Robbie Keane.
Financial obstacles to reunion
Despite the potential drop in revenue associated with Championship football, the Argentine remains willing to discuss a comeback at the club where he spent five years.
However, the financial realities of the second tier could make matching the 54-year-old’s wage demands difficult for the hierarchy.
Ben Jacobs, speaking to Give Me Sport, suggested the former Chelsea boss is not deterred by the club’s precarious league position.
“The good news for Tottenham fans is that Pochettino is open to returning, and would not necessarily be put off even if Spurs got relegated to the Championship.”
Ben Jacobs, Senior Correspondent
Jacobs added that while interest exists, the club must be able to afford a salary that “wouldn’t necessarily drop significantly” in the lower division.
A celebrated legacy
Pochettino enjoyed a transformative tenure at White Hart Lane and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium between 2014 and 2019.
He guided the club to their first Champions League final in 2019 and achieved a second-place Premier League finish during the 2016-17 campaign.
Since his dismissal in November 2019, the tactical specialist has won the Ligue 1 title with Paris St-Germain and spent a solitary season in charge of Chelsea.
His current contract with the United States runs until the conclusion of the upcoming World Cup.
